News

Hepworth ready to give expert tuition

Professional James Hepworth, who has played with all the star names, including Lee Westwood and Tiger Woods, is going to be passing his expert knowledge to golfers in the Bradford area.

James, who once led the Scottish Open at Gleneagles, will be giving golf lessons at Shay Grange Golf Centre in Heaton, which is owned by his best friend
Jordan Gibson.

His decision to take up coaching follows 15 years playing in tournaments across Europe.

Spending months away from home living out of suitcases has finally got to him and he now wants to spend some quality family time with his daughter Camilla, who has just turned four.

He is not going to give up playing in tournaments totally as he will still be entering a few of the Euro Pro events in this country, as well as the Yorkshire PGA and pro-ams.

He came joint third in the recent Jamega Tour event at The Bedford course, finishing one shot behind Bingley St Ives’ Dane Bairstow.

James is also going to have a crack at qualifying for The Open, which he hasn’t been able to do before because he was touring.

James is looking forward to working with golfers in the area who are trying to improve their games and is happy to have shaken off some of the pressure playing on the tour brings.

“Most golfers will know the pressure you are under to hole a five-foot putt on the last to win or halve a Sunday fourball, so you can imagine how intense it can get when you livelihood depends on
it,” he said.

“Don’t get me wrong, I have loved every minute of playing on the tour.

"After all, it has been my dream since I started playing golf with my dad when I was nine.

“However paying for flights, transfers, accommodation and meals soon mounts up and that put enormous pressure on you to do well or at least make the cut. After a while it gets a bit too much.”

James, who is a member of Ilkley Golf Club and holds the course record, took up his new coaching role last weekend, when Shay Grange launched its specialised
left-hand golf facility.